PLANTING AND MANURING 49 
if the ground or beds where the trees are planted is not 
liberally manured every year. But if manure is liberally 
applied, the necessity for top dressing the roots will 
not be so great; for the yew extends its roots for a 
long distance and therefore absorbs a great deal of 
whatever kind of manure is applied to the ground. 
Although chemical manures may be used for the sake 
of convenience, or lack of farmyard manure, they are 
not strongly recommended. Of course if farmyard 
manure cannot be obtained, then chemical manure of 
some sort will have to be resorted to, but this will 
not have the same desired effect in imparting vigour 
to the trees. The principal objection to farmyard 
manure arises on account of its unsightliness in the 
garden; but that can be remedied to a great extent 
by removing a few inches of soil from the roots and 
applying a layer of the manure, and afterwards replacing 
the soil. Liquid manure of any kind will be of the 
greatest benefit to old trees, and there is no doubt that 
chemical manure if applied to the roots at all, should 
be given in liquid form during spring or summer, when 
the weather is dry. It will greatly assist the trees in 
making good growth. 
The clipped yew is of such a close nature that it 
takes very heavy rains to penetrate the roots. 
